VietNamNet Bridge - As state and local budgets are limited, calling for private investment in waste water treatment is considered the most feasible solution for now.

Experts participating in a workshop on water drainage and waste water treatment management in mid-June agreed that investment in the sector is coming in dribs and drabs.

Nguyen Kim Hoang from the Can Tho City Construction Department said except for the KfW-funded concentrated waste water treatment plant with capacity of 30,000 cubic meters per day, which is under execution, other waste water treatment projects in the city still have not received capital.

The investment capital for the concentrated waste water treatment plants in the districts of Binh Thuy, Thot Not, O Mon and Cai Rang has not been arranged and investors have not been found. The other non-concentrated projects in residential quarters and craft villages in the city are in the same situation.

As state and local budgets are limited, calling for private investment in waste water treatment is considered the most feasible solution for now.

Duong Vu Linh from the Tra Vinh provincial Construction Department also said except for a waste water treatment plant with capacity of 18,000 cubic meters per day funded by GIZ, other projects cannot be implemented because of lack of capital.

Meanwhile, a representative of the Quang Ngai provincial Construction Department said such waste water collection and treatment systems in urban areas have not been developed because resources for investment and development are limited.

Nguyen Cong Thanh, technical advisor from GIZ, said that in the context of limited budgets, local authorities should encourage the private sector to engage in the water drainage and waste water treatment sector.

However, he said if local authorities cannot create reasonable policies, they will fail to attract private investment.

Thanh said it is necessary to offer incentives in corporate income tax and land. If not, the lack of capital will continue.

An Giang provincial authorities have set up a target of 30-50 percent waste water in craft villages to be collected and treated properly by 2020. In order to reach that goal, offering investment incentives to attract private investors is a must.

In a report released earlier this year by the Ministry of Construction, the ministry said Vietnam would have 52 million people in urban areas by 2025, while the water drainage and waste water treatment remain problematic.

The current total waste water treatment capacity is 890,000 cubic meters per day, which means a treatment proportion of 12-13 percent.

According to Nguyen Hong Tien from the ministry, Vietnam will strive to have 15-20 percent of waste water to be treated to meet standards by 2020.